Sailing the Carnival Luminosa: Our Alaskan Adventure

OK - yes, this is not exactly an RV excursion but ‘Luck on Wheels’ has all kinds of adventures. This one happens to be a cruise! We left our RV in safe hands at Sun Outdoors in Gig Harbor, WA. If you didn’t check that blog out, don’t miss it because that area is one we will definitely return to at some point!

We just spent 8 awesome days on the Carnival Luminosa, a shiny new member of the Carnival Cruise Line. This trip was super special for us. It was my third time on a Carnival cruise, while Kevin clocked his fourth. And guess what? Both of us were Alaska newbies! We kinda have this knack for shipboard games and, man, Lady Luck loves us for it. Some cool freebies came our way - think free play in the casino, free-flowing drinks everywhere on board, chill spa sessions (we had a stone couples massage), and some seriously yummy steakhouse dinners.

Our room? Oh, it was an Extended Balcony Grand Suite – massive and super cozy. Our absolute fave part? The balcony. Just the best spot to chill, breathe in that ocean vibe, and watch some killer sunsets.

Sailing to Alaska was like being rocked to sleep until the last day on the return when we hit rough waters and I just had to hit the room and sleep through it! But the covered pool area on the Luminosa? Total game changer. Imagine soaking up the sun without the chilly breeze getting to you. Pure bliss!

Sled Dogs in Juneau

The first stop on the cruise was Juneau. Trust me, it’s a must-visit. We took a helicopter ride to Mendenhall Glacier which was a bucket list item for us! But the real show-stealers? The sled dogs.

Imagine riding a sled, wind whipping past, with these super dogs doing their thing! A couple of ours were gearing up for the Iditarod and they are so cool. Special shoutout to my favorite, Drifter. A laid-back dog, who stole our hearts not only because he was a cutie (see his pic here where he wrapped his paw around me and wouldn’t let me go) but also because he looked just like our old dog, Nutmeg! Meeting these furballs? Pure Alaskan magic!

Stop 2. Skagway

Skagway felt like we’d jumped into a time machine. We hopped on the White Pass Summit Excursion, riding in these old-school parlor cars. Views for days - Rocky Point, Bridal Veil Falls, you name it. Plus, we got all the way to the Canadian border and back. It was a nice activity for a low-key day.

A stop on water at Tracy Arm Fjord

We spent a day just floating in Tracy Arm fjord which is about 45 miles south of Juneau. Talk about beautiful! I’ve never seen anything quite like it. To be honest, we had no intention of having our pictures professionally taken on the ship but it was so beautiful we couldn’t resist. Can you believe that view?!

Last stop. Victoria

Then there’s Victoria. This place is like stepping into a storybook. Picture this: a horse-drawn carriage taking us through green parks and old-timey streets. Our guide, Keira, was a walking history book, making every corner come alive.

We worked up a bit of a hunger during the carriage ride so we checked out the Sticky Wicket in Strath Hotel. Their buffalo cauliflower is next level! And the mains? Delish!

As our cruise came to an end, we were reminded of all the amazing experiences we had. Major kudos to Carnival Luminosa – it's more than just a ship; it's where our love for adventure truly came alive.

Until next time, keep spinning the wheel of adventure!

Happy RVing!

2KidsatHeart 🚐💨